The three-person panel will be holding town hall and roundtable discussions across Alberta and B.C. to hear from local communities and First Nations, according to a press release. Former Tsawwassen First Nation Chief Kim Baird, former Yukon premier Tony Penikett and former Albertan deputy finance minister Annette Trimbee make up the panel.

The panel will report to the federal natural resources minister Jim Carr in Novemebr, with the government deciding to green light or halt the project Dec. 19. The National Energy Board gave the project a conditional thumbs up in May.

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OPINION A report has recently stated that the average cost of food will inflate near double its average annual rate. This does not include fresh produce and most animal proteins. The inflation for these products may t